The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-12-24
A RUNAWAY MATCH.
Aunt Luco Tolls the Story OF a
Christmas Romance.

The big house on tho old Vilier
plantation was ablaze with light one
Christmas eve not many years ago,
aud within was rs merry party as
ever gathered together to welcom the
Christmas dawn.
The coming day was also tho birth
day of Marie Vilier. one Of the most
beautiful of Louisiana's fair daugh-
tcrs. Tho party consisted OF several
noighboring planters sons and daugh-
ters, besides few city friends and
among them viii Ashton. Mar,o's af-
fanccd husband. Dancing and goncr-
al enjoyment hal spent the earlier part
Of tho evening, and every one was
willing to rest awhile until the
bells should announce twelve
ing young hostess was cudgcling her
brain to devise some quiet amusement
for her guests. when Aunt Luce
entered Aunt Luce was mn old scrv-
ant, who had spent all her life in the
service of the family and who fairly
worshippcd Marie. whom she had
"raiscd."
aunt Luce" said the girl. 'put
those things down and come and tell
us Christmas story"
'Lor, missy dunno what ter tell
yo'. doan' kno' no story what yo'
comp'ny wants ter lis'en ter"
But the idea had met with general
approval and n storm OF protestations
met tho old negrcss' denial. Chairs
were arranged and the big cypress
logs in tho wide hearth turned SO that
their bright burning sides east II golden
light through the great rooms and
tinged the old woman red hcad-kcr-
chief with II brighter scarlet, as she
vigorously nodded her head with each
curtscy of rcmonstrancc. But Marie
insisted and that was sufficient, so.
seating herself on the floor near the
hearth. tho old woman began.
Il dunno what ter tell yo' young
people 'les'n | tell yo' bout how ole
Marsc Ned, young missy's pa. got the
madame fur his wife"
A burst of Encouragement met the
pause. and the old darky, Keeping her
eyes bent upon tho Goals as if seeking
Inspiration, continued:
"Et wua one Christmas eve ics' like
dis, on'y it wuz fore mos % yo' wul
born. Marso Nd he done ics' cum
back from d, Npyf. whar' he ben ter
collidgc Fore he went away he done
tolc Miss Katc-dats Miss Marie's ma
dat he dubbed her moro'n he cud
say, an dat soon cs he done finish his
book larnm' he wu2 comm home ter
marry her Miss Kate she dubbed
him. too, but ~ like herself she
didn't want Marso Ned ter fink as
dat she could'n get long widout him,
so when he tolc her he wuS comm back
ter marry her. she j st frow' ed her
head back like'er young colt an lowed
ef Marsc Nod wuS goin' way fur So
long he mus spec ter be dispinted
mebbc when he cum back. Law n.
mighty. kin see dem two in
de Goals dcrc. jcs like dey
stood dat day on the bank,
waitin' fur de boat dat Marsc Ned wuz
goin' down to Ny Orluus on. Miss
Kate she was called dc bell oh de
coast an dcrc was more young men
a-hangin' roun' her dan she know'd
what ter do wild. lt's n fac dat some
days had ter jes keep runnin' all de
time tcllin' 'cm she vas onwell. an
all dc time she and Marsc Ned wuz
sittin' in de library a-rcadin' and
talkin'. an sometimes dey j,s sot
dere an didn' do nuiliH-joS sot.
know'd. den. dat. de- wuz fallin' in
lub. Well. as WIZ tellin yo'. Miss
Kate wuz jcs hu'ful An Marso Ned
well. dcrc WIZ NOBODY roun' dem
parts dat Guild hor light ter him.
An rroudl Lor. proud wuzn' no name
fit ter call III ] hcarn Miss Kate say
one day how Marsc Ned wuz proud aa
Lufiser. Now. | doau know who dat
Is. but he mus le,n mighty proud CT
Miss Kate wouldn' never foun' no 'zem-
blanco tween him an Marso Ned.
Well. dem two stood on de bank an
jcs looked straight inter each unner' :
eyes. an while dcy wuz stan'in' dero
de boat cum long. an Marse Ned he jes
hol bof Miss Katc's hans mint
an den he jes dash down de stage
plank like es Of he wuz mad. Miss
Kate she never said word, but jes
stan Idere an look till yo' couldn'
see dc boat Den she turn an look NJ
me. jes like her heart was breakin'
an her big brown eyes seem ter say
ter me; oh. Luce. he's gone. he's
gone Den l TUX her an pettcd hcr
awhile. an bime-by she wuz herse'i
again.
mot long after Marse Ned lct